triangle trigonometry

1. 93o
50’
32o
c 4
b C
Module 2
Triangle Trigonometry
What this module is about
This module is about law of sines. As you go over this material, you will
develop the skills in deriving the law of sines. Moreover, you are also expected to
learn how to solve different problems involving the law of sines.
What you are expected to learn
This module is designed for you to demonstrate ability to apply the law of
sines to solve problems involving triangles.
How much do you know
1. Find the measure of ∠ B in ABC if m∠ A = 8o
and m∠ C = 97o
.
2. Find the measure of ∠ A in ABC if m∠ B = 18o
14’ and m∠ C = 81o
41’.
3. Two of the measures of the angles of ABC are A = 8o
3’ and B = 59o
6’.
Which is the longest side?
4. What equation involving sin 32o
will be used to find side b?
5. Given a = 62.5 cm, m∠ A = 62o
20’ and m∠ C = 42o
10’. Solve for side b.
6. Solve for the perimeter of ABC if c = 25 cm, m∠ A = 35o
14’ and m∠ B =
68o
.
7. Solve ABC if a = 38.12 cm, m∠ A = 46o
32’ and m∠ C = 79o
17’.
A
B

2. 2
8. Solve ABC if b = 67.25 mm, c = 56.92 mm and m∠ B = 65o
16’.
9. From the top of a building 300 m high, the angles of depression of two street
signs are 17.5o
and 33.2o
. If the street signs are due south of the observation
point, find the distance between them.
10.The angles of elevation of the top of a tower are 35o
from point A and 51o
from another point B which is 35 m from the base of the tower. If the base of
the tower and the points of observation are on the same level, how far are
they from each other?
What you will do
Lesson 1
Oblique Triangles
An oblique triangle is a triangle which does not contain a right angle. It
contains either three acute angles (acute triangle) or two acute angles and one
obtuse angle (obtuse triangle).
Acute triangle Obtuse triangle
If two of the angles of an oblique triangle are known, the third angle can
be computed. Recall that the sum of the interior angles in a triangle is 180o
.
Examples:
Given two of the angles of ABC, solve for the measure of the third angle.
1. A = 30o
, B = 45o
.
A + B + C = 180o
.
30o
+ 45o
+ C = 180o
.
C = 180o
– (30o
+ 45o
)
C = 180o
– 75o
C = 105o

3. 3
2. B = 69.25o
, C = 114.5o
.
A + B + C = 180o
.
A + 69.25o
+ 114.5o
= 180o
.
A = 180o
– (69.25o
+ 114.5o
)
A = 180o
– 183.75o
A = 3.75o
3. A = 56o
38’, C = 64o
49’.
A + B + C = 180o
.
56o
38’ + B + 64o
49’o
= 180o
.
B = 180o
– (56o
38’ + 64o
49’)
B = 180o
– 121o
27’
B = 58o
33’
Try this out
Given two of the angles of ABC, solve for the measure of the third angle.
Set A
1. A = 60o
, B = 45o
2. B = 76o
, C = 64o
3. A = 69.25o
, C = 14.5o
4. B = 19.15o
, A = 107.05o
5. C = 85o
38’, A = 74o
23’
Set B
1. A = 57o
, B = 118o
2. B = 46o
, C = 69o
3. A = 51.63o
, C = 70.47o
4. B = 37.3o
, A = 77.24o
5. C = 58o
6’, A = 47o
24’
Set C
1. A = 58o
, B = 77o
2. B = 64o
, C = 64o
3. A = 18.82o
, C = 109.3o
4. B = 56.85o
, A = 37.18o

4. 4
5. C = 27o
34’, A = 72o
43’
Lesson 2
Deriving the Law of Sines; Solving Oblique Triangles
Involving Two Angles and a Side Opposite One of Them
Consider ABC with altitude h.
The area of this triangle is
1
Area ch
2
= (1)
From the right triangle
h
sin A
b
= (2)
Solving h in (2) gives
H = bsin A (3)
Substituting (3) in (1) gives
1
Area c(bsin A)
2
= (4)
Similarly, two other formulas for the area of ABC can be derived, namely:
1
Area a(csin B)
2
= (5)
b h a
BA
C
c

5. 5
93o
50’
32o
c 4
b C
B
A
and
1
Area b(asin C)
2
= (6)
Since (4), (5), and (6) represent the area of one and the same triangle,
then
1 1 1
c(bsin A) a(csin B) b(asin C)
2 2 2
= =
or equivalently
sin A sin B sin C
a b c
= = .
This is the Law of Sines which states that “In any triangle ABC, with a, b,
and c as its sides, and A, B and C as its angles,
sin A sin B sin C
a b c
= = .”
Note that this is also equivalent to
a b c
sin A sin B sin C
= = .
The Law of Sines is used to solve different cases of oblique triangles.
One case of oblique triangle that can be solved using the law of sines involves
two angles and a side opposite one of them.
Examples:
Solve each triangle ABC described below.
1. a = 4, A = 32o
, B = 93o
50’
The given parts of the triangle involve two angles A and B, and side a
which is opposite A. The given parts and the unknown parts are shown in the
figure below.
To solve for C:
A + B + C = 180o

6. 6
32o
+ 93o
50’ + C = 180
C = 180o
– (32o
+ 93o
50’)
C = 180o
– 125o
50’
C = 54o
10’
To solve for b:
a b
sin A sin B
=
asin B
b
sin A
=
4(sin93 50')
b
sin32
°
=
°
4(0.99776)
b
0.52992
=
b = 7.53
To solve for c:
a c
sin A sin C
=
asin C
c
sin A
=
4(sin54 10')
c
sin32
°
=
°
4(0.81072)
b
0.52992
=
b = 6.12
2. b = 2.3, C = 42.5o
, B = 84o
The given parts of the triangle involve two angles B and C, and side b
which is opposite B. The given parts and the unknown parts are shown in the
figure below.
84o
42.5o
a
2.3
c
B
C
A

7. 7
To solve for A:
A + B + C = 180o
A + 84o
+ 42.5o
= 180o
A = 180o
– (84o
+ 42.5o
)
A = 180o
– 126.5o
A = 53.5o
or 53o
30’
To solve for c:
c b
sin C sin B
=
bsin C
c
sin B
=
2.3(sin 42.5 )
c
sin84
°
=
°
2.3(0.67559)
c
0.99452
=
c = 1.6
To solve for a:
a b
sin A sin B
=
bsin A
a
sin B
=
2.3(sin53 30')
a
sin84
°
=
°
2.3(0.80386)
a
0.99452
=
a =1.86
Try this out
Solve triangle ABC described by the given parts.
Set A
1. a = 12, A = 60o
, B = 45o
2. b = 20, B = 32o
, C = 24o

8. 8
3. c = 42.5, A= 35.2o
, C = 29o
4. a = 9, A = 42.4o
, C = 37.8o
5. b = 75, B = 30o
45’, C = 32o
30’
Set B
1. a = 10, A = 61o
, B = 49o
2. c = 80, C = 56o
, B = 68o
3. b = 38, B = 47o
, A = 30o
4. c = 8, C = 77.2o
, A = 88o
5. b = 8, B = 67o
15’, A = 33o
5’
Set C
1. A = 65o
50’, B = 14o
, b = 16
2. A = 69o
15’, C = 28o
40’, a = 80
3. B = 47.5o
, A = 80o
, a = 15.1
4. B = 63o
36’, C = 89o
, b = 8
5. C = 57.25o
, A = 33.5o
, c = 23.5
Lesson 3
Solving Oblique Triangles Involving Two Angles
and the Included Side
Another case of oblique triangle that can be solved using the law of sines
involves two angles and the included side.
Examples:
1. c = 440, A = 48o
, B = 75o
The given parts of the triangle involve two angles and the included side.
This case can also be solved using the law of sines.
To solve for C:
A + B + C = 180o
75o
48o
440
b C
a
A
B

9. 9
48o
+ 75o
+ C = 180
C = 180o
– (48o
+ 75o
)
C = 180o
– 123o
C = 57o
To solve for a:
a c
sin A sin C
=
csin A
a
sin C
=
440(sin 48 )
a
sin57
°
=
°
440(0.74315)
a
0.83867
=
a = 389.87
To solve for b:
b c
sin B sin C
=
csin B
b
sin C
=
440(sin 48 )
b
sin57
°
=
°
440(0.74314)
b
0.96593
=
b = 338.51
2. a = 8.2, B = 38o
26’, C = 75o
19’
The given parts of the triangle involve two angles and the included side.
This case can also be solved using the law of sines.
38o
26’75o
19’
8.2
b c
A
BC

10. 10
To solve for A:
A + B + C = 180o
A + 38o
26’ + 75o
19’ = 180
A = 180o
– (38o
26’ + 75o
19’)
C = 180o
– 113o
45’
C = 66o
15’
To solve for b:
a b
sin A sin B
=
asin B
b
sin A
=
8.2(sin38 26')
b
sin 75 19'
°
=
°
8.2(0.62160)
b
0.96734
=
b = 5.27
To solve for c:
a c
sin A sin C
=
asin C
c
sin A
=
8.2(sin 66 15')
c
sin75 19'
°
=
°
8.2(0.91531)
c
0.96734
=
c = 7.76
Try this out
Solve each triangle ABC described below.
Set A
1. a = 12, A = 60o
, B = 45o
2. b = 20, A = 32o
, C = 24o

11. 11
3. c = 42.5, A = 35.2o
, B = 79o
4. a = 9, A = 42.4o
, B = 37.8o
5. b = 0.751, A = 100o
30’, C = 32o
45’
Set B
1. a = 248, A = 51o
, B = 49o
2. c = 8.5, A = 56o
, B = 68o
3. b = 38, A = 47.2o
, C = 50.5o
4. a = 8, B = 77o
26’, C = 28o
40’
5. c = 1.2, A = 67.3o
, B = 33.9o
Set C
1. A = 65o
50’, B = 14o
, c = 16
2. B = 69.2o
, C = 28.8o
a = 0.8
3. A = 15o
28’, C = 77o
, b = 100
4. a = 1.8, B = 36o
36’, C = 98o
5. c = 23.5, B = 57.25o
, A = 33o
33’
Lesson 4
Solving Oblique Triangles Involving Two Sides and an Angle
Opposite One of Them
Another case of oblique triangle that can be solved using the law of sines
involves two sides and an angle opposite one of them.
Examples:
The given parts and the unknown parts are shown in the figures:
1. b = 15, a = 20, A = 80o
25’
To solve for B:
a b
sin A sin B
=
C
80o
25’
15 20
c BA

12. 12
bsin A
sin B
a
=
15(sin80 25')
sin B
20
°
=
15(0.98604)
sin B
20
=
sin B 0.73953=
B = Arcsin (0.73953)
B = 47o
41’29”
To solve for C:
A + B + C = 180o
80o
25’ + 47o
41’ + C = 180
C = 180o
– (80o
25’ + 47o
41’)
C = 180o
– 128o
6’
C = 51o
54’
To solve for c:
a c
sin A sin C
=
asin C
c
sin A
=
20(sin51 54')
c
sin80 25'
°
=
°
20(0.78694)
b
0.98604
=
b = 15.96
2. a = 2.46, c = 5, C = 70.2o
70.2o
b 2.46
A 5 B
C

13. 13
To solve for A:
a c
sin A sin C
=
asin C
sin A
c
=
2.46(sin70.2 )
sin A
5
°
=
2.46(0.94088)
sin A
5
=
sin A = 0.46291
A = Arcsin (0.46291)
A = 27.58o
To solve for B:
A + B + C = 180o
27.58o
+ B + 70.2o
= 180
B = 180o
– (27.58o
+ 70.2o
)
B = 180o
– 97.78o
B = 82.22o
To solve for b:
b c
sin B sin C
=
csin B
b
sin C
=
5(sin82.22 )
b
sin 70.2
°
=
°
5(0.99080)
b
0.94088
=
b = 5.27
Try this out
Solve each triangle ABC described below.
Set A
1. a = 12, b = 18, B = 45o
2. b = 20, c = 32, B = 24o

14. 14
3. a = 2.5, c = 5.2, C = 79o
4. a = 9, b = 14.4, B = 37.8o
5. b = 0.751, c = 1, C = 32o
45’
Set B
1. a = 140, b = 150, B = 49o
2. a = 8.5, c = 5.6, A = 68o
3. a = 47.2, b = 38, A = 50.5o
4. a = 0.8, c = 0.72, C = 28o
40’
5. c = 1.2, b = 6.3, B = 131.5o
Set C
1. A = 65o
50’, a = 15, c = 16
2. B = 95.2o
, b = 2.8, c = 0.8
3. C = 15o
28’, c = 77, b = 100
4. B = 36o
36’, a = 1.8, b = 2.98
5. A = 33o
33’, a = 33.5, b = 57.25
Lesson 5
Solving Problems Involving Oblique Triangles
The following examples show how the law of sines is used to solve word
problems involving oblique triangles.
Examples:
Solve each problem. Show a complete solution.
1. The longer diagonal of a parallelogram is 27 cm. Find the perimeter of the
parallelogram if the angles between the sides and the diagonal are 30o
and 40o
10’.
The perimeter of any parallelogram is twice the sum of the lengths of the
two consecutive sides.
40o
10’
30o
27 cm y
x
θ

15. 15
Let x and y be the consecutive sides as shown in the figure. The angle
opposite x is 40o
10’. Hence, the angle θ between x and y is
30o
+ 40o
10’ + θ = 180o
θ = 180o
– (30o
+ 40o
10’)
θ = 180o
– 70o
10’
θ = 109o
50’
To solve for x:
x 27
sin 40 10' sin109 50'
=
° °
27sin 40 10'
x
sin109 50'
°
=
°
27(0.64501)
x
0.94068
=
x = 18.51 cm
To solve for y:
y 27
sin30 sin109 50'
=
° °
27sin30
y
sin109 50'
°
=
°
27(0.5)
y
0.94068
=
x = 14.35 cm
The perimeter P of the parallelogram is
P = 2(x + y)
P = 2(18.51 + 14.35)
P = 2(32.86)
P = 65.72 cm
2. From the top of a 300 m building, the angle of depression of two traffic
aides on the street are 17o
30’ and 33o
12’, respectively. If they are due
south of the observation point, find the distance between them.

16. 16
Let B1B2 be the distance between the two traffic aides.
First, find θ1:
θ1 = 33o
12’ – 17o
30’
θ1 = 15o
42’
Then, find OB1:
1
300
cos33 12'
OB
° =
1
300
OB
cos33 12'
=
°
1
300
OB
0.83676
=
OB1 = 358.53
To solve for B1B2:
1 2 1B B OB
sin15 42' sin17 30'
=
° °
1
1 2
OB (sin15 42')
B B
sin17 30'
°
=
°
1 2
358.53(0.27060)
B B
0.30071
=
B1B2 = 322.63 m
17o
30’
300 m
P B1 B2
33o
12’
θ1
O
17o
30’33o
12’

17. 17
Try this out
Solve each problem. Show a complete solution.
Set A
1. The shorter diagonal of a parallelogram is 5.2 m. Find the perimeter of
the parallelogram if the angles between the sides and the diagonal are
40o
and 30o
10’.
2. From the top of a 150 m lighthouse, the angles of depression of two
boats on the shore are 20o
and 50o
, respectively. If they are due north
of the observation point, find the distance between them.
3. Two policemen 122 meters apart are looking at a woman on top of a
tower. One cop is on the east side and the other on the west side. If
the angles of elevation of the woman from the cops are 42.5o
and
64.8o
, how far is she from the two cops?
4. The angle between Rizal St. and Bonifacio St. is 27o
and intersect at P.
Jose and Andres leaves P at the same time. Jose jogs at 10 kph on
Rizal St. If he is 3 km from Andres after 30 minutes, how fast is Andres
running along Bonifacio St?
5. The angle of elevation of the top of a tower is 40o
30’ from point X and
55o
from another point Y. Point Y is 30 meters from the base of the
tower. If the base of the tower and points X and Y are on the same
level, find the approximate distance from X and Y.
Set B
1. The vertex of an isosceles triangle is 40o
. If the base of the triangle is
18 cm. find its perimeter.
2. An 80-meter building is on top of a hill. From the top of the building, a
nipa hut is sighted with an angle of depression of 54o
. From the foot of
the building the same nipa hut was sighted with an angle of depression
of 45o
. Find the height of the hill and the horizontal distance from the
building to the nipa hut.
3. The lengths of the diagonals of a parallelogram are 32.5 cm and 45.2
cm. The angle between the longer side and the longer diagonal is 35o
.
Find the length of the longer side of the parallelogram.

18. 18
4. A diagonal of a parallelogram is 35 cm long and forms angles of 34o
and 43o
with the sides. Find the perimeter and area of the
parallelogram.
5. A wooden post is inclined 85o
with the ground. It was broken by a
strong typhoon. If a broken part makes an angle of 25o
with the
ground, and the topmost part of the post is 40 ft from its base, how
long was the post?
Set C
1. The measures of two of the angles of a triangle are 50o
and 55o
. If its
longest side measures 17 cm, find the perimeter of the triangle.
2. Bryan’s (B) and Carl’s (C) houses are along the riverbank. On the
opposite side is Angel’s (A) house which is 275 m away from Carl’s.
The angles CAB and ACB are measured and are found to be 125o
and
49o
, respectively. Find the distance between Angel’s and Bryan’s
houses.
3. A park is in the shape of an obtuse triangle. One angle is 45o
and the
opposite side is 280-m long and the other angle is 40o
. Find the
perimeter of the park.
4. Three circles are arranged as shown in the figure. Their centers are
joined to form a triangle. Find angle θ.
5. Two forces are acting on each other at point A at an angle 50o
. One
force has a magnitude of 60 lbs. If the resultant force is 75 lbs find the
magnitude of the second force.
r = 1.5
r = 3
r = 2.5θ
30o

19. 19
Let’s summarize
1. An oblique triangle is a triangle which does not contain a right angle. It
contains either three acute angles (acute triangle) or two acute angles and
one obtuse angle (obtuse triangle).
2. If two of the angles of an oblique triangle are known, the third angle can
be computed. The sum of the interior angles in a triangle is 180o
.
3. In any triangle ABC, with a, b, and c as its sides, and A, B and C as its
angles,
sin A sin B sin C
a b c
= = .
This is also equivalent to
a b c
sin A sin B sin C
= = .
4. The Law of Sines is used to solve different cases of oblique triangles. This
law is used to solve oblique triangles that involve
a. two angles and a side opposite one of them.
b. two angles and the included side
c. two sides and the angle opposite one of them
What have you learned
1. Find the measure of ∠ B in ABC if m∠ A = 8o
and m∠ C = 97o
.
2. Find the measure of ∠ A in ABC if m∠ B = 18o
14’ and m∠ C = 81o
41’.
3. The measures of the side of ABC are c = 83 cm and b = 59 cm and a =
45 cm. Which is the largest angle?
4. What equation that involves sin 70.2o
will be used to find angle A?
70.2o
b 2.46
A 5 B
C

20. 20
5. Given a = 62.5 cm, m∠ A = 112o
20’ and m∠ C = 42o
10’. Solve for side b.
6. Solve for the perimeter of ABC if c = 25 cm, m∠ A = 35o
14’ and m∠ B
= 68o
.
7. Solve ABC if b = 38.12 cm, m∠ B = 46o
32’ and m∠ A = 79o
17’.
8. Solve ABC if b = 67.25 mm, c = 56.92 mm and m∠ B = 65o
16’.
9. From the top of a building 300 m high, the angles of depression of two
street signs are 17.5o
and 33.2o
. If the street signs are due south of the
observation point, find the distance between them.
10.A park is in the shape of an acute triangle. One angle is 55o
and the
opposite side is 300-m long and the other angle is 60o
. Find the perimeter
of the park.

21. 21
Answer Key
How much do you know
1. 75o
2. 80o
5’
3. c
4.
b 4
sin93 50' sin32
=
° °
5. 68.32 cm
6. 14.82 cm
7. B = 54o
11’, b = 42.59 cm, c = 51.61 cm
8. C = 50o
14’30”, A = 64o
29’30”, a = 66.83 mm
9. 155.45 m
10.26.73 m
Try this out
Lesson 1
Set A
1. 75o
2. 40o
3. 96.25o
4. 53.8o
5. 19o
59’
Set B
1. 5o
2. 65o
3. 57.9o
4. 65.46o
5. 74o
30’

22. 22
Set C
1. 45 o
2. 52 o
3. 51.88o
4. 85.97o
5. 79o
43’
Lesson 2
Set A
1. C = 75o
, b = 9.80, c = 13.38
2. A = 124o
, a = 31.29, c = 15.35
3. B = 115.8o
, a = 50.53, b = 78.92
4. B = 99.8o
, b = 13.15, c = 8.18
5. A = 116o
45’, a = 130.99, c = 78.81
Set B
1. C = 70o
, b = 8.63, c = 10.74
2. A = 56o
, a = 80, b = 89.47
3. C = 103o
, a = 25.98, c = 50.63
4. B = 14.8o
, a = 8.20, b = 2.10
5. C = 79o
40’, a = 4.74, c = 8.53
Set C
1. C = 100o
10’, a = 60.34, c = 65.10
2. B = 82o
5’, b = 84.73, c = 41.04
3. C = 52.5o
, b = 11.30, c = 12.16
4. A = 27o
24’, a = 4.11, c = 8.93
5. B = 89.25o
, a = 15.42, b = 27.94
Lesson 3
Set A
1. C = 75 o
, b = 9.80, c = 13.38
2. B = 123 o
, a = 12.64, c = 9.70

23. 23
3. C = 65.8 o
, a = 26.84, b = 45.74
4. C = 99.8 o
, b = 8.18, c = 13.15
5. B = 46o
45’, a = 1.014, c = 0.558
Set B
1. C = 80o
, b = 240.84, c = 314.27
2. C = 56o
, a = 8.50, b = 9.51
3. B = 82.3o
, a = 28.14, c = 29.59
4. A = 73o
54’, b = 8.13, c = 3.99
5. C = 79o
33’, a = 1.13, b = 0.68
Set C
1. C = 100o
, a = 14.83, b = 14.83
2. A = 82o
, b = 0.76, c = 0.39
3. B = 87o
32’, a = 26.69, c = 97.53
4. A = 45o
24’, b = 1.51, c = 2.50
5. C = 89o
12’, a = 13.00, b = 19.77
Lesson 4
Set A
1. A = 28o
7’32”, C = 106o
52’28”, c = 10.83
2. A = 115o
23’48”, C = 40o
36’12”, a = 44.42
3. A = 28o
9’36”, B = 72o
50’24”, b = 5.06
4. A = 22o
31’56”, C = 119o
40’4”, c = 20.41
5. A = 123o
16’45”, B = 23o
58’15”, a = 1.55
Set B
1. A = 44o
46’51”, C = 86o
13’9”, c = 198.32
2. B = 74o
20’56”, C = 37o
39’4”, b = 8.83
3. B = 38o
24’20”, C = 91o
5’40”, c = 61.16
4. A = 32o
12’34”, B = 119o
7’26”, b = 1.31
5. A = 40.3o
, C = 8.2, a = 5.44

24. 24
Set C
1. B = 37o
27’57”, C = 76o
42’3”, b = 10.00
2. A = 71.21o
, C = 16.59o
, a = 0.76
3. A = 144o
16’12”, B = 20o
15’48”, a = 168.61
4. A = 21o
6’31”, C = 122o
17’29”, c = 4.23
5. B = 70o
49’4”, C = 75o
37’56”, c = 58.72
Lesson 5
Set A
1. The perimeter is 12.66 m.
2. The distance between them is approximately 286.26 m.
3. The distances of the woman from the two policemen are approximately
86.33 m and 115.62 m.
4. Andres ran approximately at the rate of 3.21 kph.
5. The distance between X and Y is approximately 20.16 m.
Set B
1. The perimeter of the isosceles triangle is approximately 70.62 cm.
2. The horizontal distance of the building to the nipa hut is 212.55 m.
3. The longer side is 28.31 cm.
4. The perimeter of the parallelogram is 89.18 cm and its area is 1,962.21
sq.cm.
5. The wooden post is 60.40 ft long.
Set C
1. The perimeter is 44.90 cm.
2. The distance between Angel’s and Bryan’s houses is 1,985.54 m.
3. The perimeter of the park is 929 m.
4. The angle θ is 115o
46’ 12”
5. The second force is approximately 97.83 lbs.

25. 25
How much have you learned
1. 75o
2. 80o
5’
3. Angle C
4.
sin A sin 70.2
2.46 5
°
=
5. 29.20 cm
6. 63.63 cm
7. C = 54o
11’, a = 51.61 cm, c = 42.59 cm
8. C = 50o
14’30”, A = 64o
29’30”, a = 66.83 mm
9. The distance between the signs is 493.03 m.
10.The perimeter is 949.09 m